July 2011 archive

The cyclists in the peloton are likely to feel a little light-headed on Thursday, and it won't be from the exhilaration of riding in the Tour de France.

The Stage 18 route visits two “beyond category” and a mountain top finish that is at  2,645 meters — about 8,600 feet where the air is starting to get a little thin.

This is a great way to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Tour's first visit to the Alps, although the cyclists will be too winded to blow out the candles.

There's only one more Alpine stage …

Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen won his second stage at this year's Tour de France on Wednesday after attacking a breakaway on the final climb of the day.

The Sky cyclist has been beaten at the line on Tuesday by fellow countryman and breakaway companion Thor Hushovd, but on Stage 17 he crossed the line solo, 40 seconds ahead of the closest chaser.

Meanwhile, the contenders for the yellow jersey gained nearly half-a-minute on Frenchman Thomas Voeckler, who survived for his ninth day in the lead. He didn't show any weakness on the final climb, but he lost time as he ran off the road into a driveway on the way down.

Defending champion Alberto Contador showed some life again by attacking on the final climb …

Stage 17 boasts five major climbs on Wednesday — two Category 3s, two Category 2s, and a Category 1.

With Alberto Contador more than 3:30 behind the yellow jersey and still trailing the Schlecks, it's possible he'll choose one of the mountains late in the 179km (111 miles) bike race from Gap to Pinerolo (Italy) to make his move.

The Category 1 Sestrieres is the penultimate climb, cresting about 37 miles (60km) from the finish. The final climb ….

Defending champion Alberto Contador finally attacked his rivals at the Tour de France on Tuesday, but it was Cadel Evans, left, who gained the most as the Brothers Schleck fell off the pace.

Meanwhile, Norway's Thor Hushovd (right, Garmin Cervelo) took the final sprint in a three-man breakaway on Stage 16, winning his second stage of the Tour de France this year with the help of Canadian teammate Ryder Hesjedahl.

In spite of the fireworks on the rain-slicked Category 2 Col du Manse on Tuesday, overall leader Thomas Voeckler valiantly held onto the yellow jersey, losing a few seconds to Evans and Contador but gaining time over Andy Schleck …

With their rest day behind them and the peloton facing the last week of the Tour de France on Tuesday, I make just one request:

Would one of the favorites please act like they want to win this championship other than by default?

We had three hard days in the Pyrenees last week, and all I remember are a number of short and all but inconsequential attacks by the Brothers Schleck, a couple by Ivan Basso and one by Cadel Evans. The only change in the leaders occurred when Frank Schleck took a flyer at the end of Stage 12 and snuck into second place ahead of Evans ….